Keeping RAFL's teeth pearly white

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wes Auldridge
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  "Wartime Readiness ...Optimal Oral Health," is the mission statement of the 48th Dental Squadron, which serves patients in the tri-base area.

The 48th DS, one of the largest dental squadrons in the Air Force, comprises 114 members, and maintains patient care for 8,000 active duty servicemen and women and approximately 10,000 command-sponsored family members. The squadron also accepts referrals from all of the United Kingdom bases as well as bases in Portugal, Spain and Turkey.

"We are authorized 30 dentists, but as is so common these days we are only getting 25 this year. We are also lucky enough to have Tech. Sgt. Alycia Miller, one of the first enlisted members to become a registered dental hygienist," said Senior Master Sgt.Tracy Putt, 48th DS superintendent.

The squadron's four flights include the clinical flight, which provides dental treatment; the support flight, which provides X-rays, instrument sterilization and front desk support; the RAF Mildenhall flight, which maintains an active duty only clinic; and the lab flight, which makes all patient's crowns, bridges and retainers. There is also an on-call staff that is available to treat dental emergencies 24 hours a day.

"We provide all the dental services you would find in any big city under one roof," said Col. Douglas Wilson, the squadron commander. "Most people only visit us for an exam and cleaning, but we have two oral maxillofacial surgeons, an endodontist, a pediatric dentist, two orthodontists, a prosthodontist, a periodontist as well as a staff of excellent general dentists to meet your needs."

In the last year, the clinic provided more than 43,000 appointments and performed more than 150,000 clinical and laboratory procedures. In the civilian sector, this care would have cost about $12 million, said Sergeant Putt.

Airman 1st Class Sandy Lieu, 48th DS pediatric prophy technician, finds her job exciting, especially working with her younger patients.

"I love to see their faces when I clean their teeth and in the end they smile and say, 'Wow my teeth feel so much cleaner,'" she said. "Getting the opportunity to educate my patients and their parents on oral hygiene is the most rewarding part of work each day."

Airman Lieu and Sergeant Putt agree being part of an outstanding team is what makes the 48th DS a great place to work.

"We have a dedicated team that consistently rises to the challenge. Just recently we had a surge in exams for the upcoming deployment," said Sergeant Putt. "The clinic completed 518 examinations, cleanings and all the extra fillings those exams generated in addition to our normal operations; all while we were half-staffed during the summer rotations. The entire staff pulled together to get our warfighters ready to deploy."